Karigan did not see Zachary at all the following day, but she supposed that made sense given all the preparations he would need to complete for their departure. He did manage to send her a note apologizing for his absence, and she tucked it into an inner pocket of her jacket beside the letter he had left for her two months before. Briefly, she wondered if she should be concerned about keeping them on her person–after all, if someone saw them, they would know how close she had grown to Zachary which could lead to other problematic queries once he had disappeared. However, she quickly dismissed those concerns, for her jacket was generally either on her shoulders or locked in her room. And, she reasoned, even if someone did manage to find the letters, he was not the only person in the kingdom named Zachary. It seemed unlikely they would assume that he had written them.
Zachary finally completed preparations the following day, and he sent her an invitation to join him for dinner again to discuss their upcoming departure. She accepted quickly, eager to see him again. When she arrived at his study at the appointed time, he asked her to wait a minute before he himself opened the door. He was smiling broadly, and she noted that it took years off his features, making him look like the young man he was. "Come in," he invited, stepping back just enough so that she could enter the study. Karigan thought she saw the Weapon standing guard outside suppress a smile at the eager tone in his voice, but she quickly forgot about that when she saw the interior of the study. Someone–Zachary, she guessed, for she doubted he would want his preparations to become fodder for gossip among the servants–had placed a white tablecloth on the table instead of leaving it bare. A beautiful quilted centerpiece lay on top of it with two candles burning brightly as well as a vase of flowers. Other flower petals were scattered on the table and around it. Other than the two candles, the only light came from a fire burning in the fireplace, giving the room a warm, welcoming glow. Karigan turned to Zachary, her eyes wide with surprise, and the smile he gave her was a bit sheepish. "I wanted to do something nice for you. I know we are not going to get many chances to be together, especially in such a relaxed fashion, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity."
Karigan was not sure exactly how to respond, so she settled for a heartfelt, "Thank you."
"My pleasure. Please." He pulled out one of the chairs at the table, and she sat down, suddenly feeling as if she should have worn something other than her Green Rider uniform. Of course, she had not brought any other clothes, for she was not exactly planning for a romantic dinner for two with the man she was courting when packing. Perhaps given what she had planned to tell Zachary, she should have been.
Fortunately, he did not seem to mind her dress, and they fell into an easy conversation. Karigan noted they were becoming comfortable with each other quickly, something that surprised her. Generally, it took quite some time for her to warm up to new people, but Zachary had a way about him that erased most of her nerves. She supposed part of it was his position–he had grown up in court and was accustomed to making effortless conversations with whoever he happened to be talking with. However, she suspected a good deal of his ease also came from Zachary himself. He had an easy-going manner and seemed to genuinely enjoy the company of others, even those, like Karigan, who came from vastly different backgrounds. She suspected those qualities were what made him such an excellent Lord Governor as well.
He asked her a number of questions about Corsa and the opportunities there, and she answered them as best as she could. He also began outlining his plan to her, surprising her by asking her opinion on a number of the details. She demurred at first, agreeing with whatever he said. However, he kept pushing her and was honestly listening to her opinion, so she eventually grew bolder in voicing her suggestions. He listened carefully to them all, asking clarifying questions when he needed to, and modifying his plan with the outcome of their discussion.
In what seemed like no time at all, the candles on the table had burned low and Zachary declared they had talked enough about his escape for one night. He blew out the candles, and both moved to the sofa in front of the fireplace, neither wishing to leave the other's presence just yet. As they nursed their wine, the conversation turned to their hopes and dreams for the future. "Do you want children some day?" Zachary asked after a few minutes.
Karigan blushed but answered, reminding herself that it was a perfectly reasonable question for a suitor. "Some day," she told him. "But likely not for awhile yet. No one gets pregnant while she still hears the call." Zachary nodded in agreement. A sudden picture flashed across Karigan's mind of a young boy with red hair and blue eyes, but she pushed it away. "Do you?" she asked.
"A houseful," Zachary answered, chuckling when her eyebrows rose. Most nobles had only enough children to have an heir or two, preferring to spend their time in other pursuits. "I've always liked children," he explained. "They're honest. Direct. Fun. All things I believe nobles could use more of in their lives." She nodded, processing that, and he gave her a gentle smile. "I have not scared you, have I?"
"No," she told him quickly, for he honestly had not. In fact, the more she considered it, the nicer it sounded to have a houseful of kids with him. She had always enjoyed spending time with the Corsa children, even as she grew older; she had just never really thought a family was in the cards for her.
"Good." Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers, and she returned the gentle kiss. He tasted of wine and chocolate from dinner and something else that she could not name but which seemed to be unique to him. Karigan did not have a lot of experience with kissing, but she had a bit, and nothing else had ever felt like kissing him. Even a gentle touch of his lips like their current kiss caused her heart to beat faster, so much that she wondered if he could feel it. He started to deepen the kiss, slowly increasing the pressure of his lips, obviously still trying to make sure she was comfortable. In response, she scooted a bit closer, letting her eyes slide shut as she enjoyed the feelings coursing through her body.
After a few seconds of kissing, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her though she had not yet opened her eyes. It took a moment for her to recognize it as the man in front of her, for the Zachary in her vision was older with creases in the corners of his eyes. He wore a metal helmet with the visor open, revealing a face contorted with pain. He opened his mouth to say something, and a trickle of blood came out the side. Though Karigan's logical brain knew the picture was only in her head, she could not stop herself from gasping, jerking away from him in the physical world. She blinked, realizing he was staring at her in puzzlement. "I apologize. Did I hurt you?"
"No," she assured him. "I just. . . am not used to being kissed like that." Karigan was not quite ready to tell him about what he had seen, not until she understood it better herself.
"I am sorry. I should have moved more slowly." He glanced at a clock on the wall above his desk. "It is getting late. I would like to leave early tomorrow, so we should probably retire to ensure we get enough sleep."
Part of Karigan wanted to object, for she had truly been enjoying their kiss, but she was still rattled from what she had seen. She nodded, standing. "Goodnight. I will see you in the morning."
"We leave at first light. Goodnight." He stood as well, walking her to the door. When they reached it, he hesitated a moment before reaching out and grabbing her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before he opened the door for her to leave.
As promised, Karigan was waiting with Condor at the stables the following morning when Zachary emerged from the castle followed by two black-clad Weapons. He smiled at her as they passed to retrieve their horses from the stableboys. "Good morning, Rider G'ladheon."
"Good morning, Lord Hillander. I trust you slept well?"
"As well as one can before such a journey. Give us just a minute to retrieve our mounts, and we can be on our way. I hope to reach the outskirts of Hillander by nightfall." Karigan's eyes widened slightly, for such a journey would require a full days' ride. "That is, if you are up for so much riding."
"Of course," she agreed. She had, in fact, ridden even longer in a day, but she had not anticipated that Zachary and his Weapons would wish to do so.
They rode away from Hillander Keep as the sun rose higher in the sky, and a comfortable silence fell between them as they continued. They ate lunch in the saddle to save time. As the afternoon progressed, Zachary steered his horse so they were riding next to one another. "Are you still alright to continue until nightfall?" he questioned. Karigan raised an eyebrow at him.
"You forget that I am a Green Rider, my lord. I am used to far more time in the saddle." He gave her a small smile.
"Zachary, Karigan." Karigan's eyes slid back to the Weapons who followed behind them, close enough that they could protect Zachary though far enough back to give them some semblance of privacy. "I trust them both completely. There is a reason I chose them for this journey."
"Right," Karigan said, coloring slightly as she remembered his plans for the journey home. Of course he would have selected trustworthy Weapons as companions—he would not have been able to execute his plan otherwise. "Have you thought more about it? Your plan, I mean."
"A bit. There is a long stretch of road through Sacor forest between Sacor City and the outskirts of Hillander province. No province claims ownership of it which means there are still a number of bandits that roam near it. Generally, I would travel through Oldbury, even though it's a longer route, in order to avoid that stretch, but if I talk enough about my haste to return, it would give a credence to my decision to take it."
"Would bandits truly be able to overcome two Weapons and you?"
"Perhaps with the element of surprise on their hands. But it is also an area that few would be willing to explore extensively to ascertain what happened to me, particularly since I doubt Amilton will be much interested in finding out as long as I leave him alone."
Karigan grimaced, remembering that she had not yet told Zachary what she had witnessed. "Speaking of Amilton, there is something I should tell you." He turned to her, curiosity clear in his eyes. "I happened to run into Amilton at the castle just before I left, and he. . . was not alone." Karigan swallowed hard as Zachary's brow furrowed, obviously trying to puzzle through what she was trying to say. "There was a young girl with him, and she was not there willingly." Zachary stared at her a moment more before his eyes began to widen.
"Did he. . ."
"No but only because I stepped in and stopped him." Zachary grimaced. "I told Captain Mapstone who took it to your father. He. . . well, frankly, he did nothing." Karigan felt the anger once more coursing through her body. Zachary simply looked resigned which frustrated Karigan for a moment before she realized that he was likely accustomed to his father's inaction.
"Did Amilton know it was you who stopped him?"
"He saw my face, but I'm sure he doesn't know my identity. However, Captain Mapstone told your father it was me." Zachary frowned. "What is it?"
"There is a non-negligible chance that Amilton will try to take revenge on you once he has the power of the throne. It is possible that you will no longer be safe in the castle."
"I had not considered that." Karigan thought for a moment. "I suppose that I will simply have to join you in Corsa then. Assuming the call releases me."
"I am sure once you explain the situation to Captain Mapstone, she will find a way to remove you from many of your duties at the castle."
"Are you going to tell her about your plan? You mentioned before that she's an old friend."
"An old friend who will be at the castle and close to Amilton with some frequency. I would not want her to need to keep such a secret for me. But I doubt she will be suspicious if you suggest spending time in Corsa; you do have family there."
Karigan nodded slowly. "I suppose that makes sense."
Zachary studied her for a moment before remarking, "You know, I am beginning to think that this might be a blessing in disguise. It should solve the problem of how we can be together quite nicely." Karigan gave a shy smile, and they lapsed again into silence, both considering what the future might hold. Despite the uncertainty, Karigan could not help but feel optimistic.
As night began to fall, the outlines of buildings came into view on the horizon. Karigan glanced over to Zachary to ask if they were planning to stay there, and she saw him smile. "Our destination for the night," he told her, nodding to the buildings.
"What is it?"
"The village of Westerly. We're only about an hour's ride from the border of Hillander province, and they're close enough to the main road that they see a number of travelers. As such, they boast an inn with a reputation for some of the best food in Sacoridia. We stayed here during my first trip to Hillander, and after that, I tried to make a stop with every other trip as well."
"That sounds wonderful," Karigan said truthfully, for though lunch had filled her stomach, the food was not the most desirable.
Zachary's Weapons rode to the front as they reached the outskirts of the village, their posture tense as their eyes darted around the area. When they stopped at the inn, Karigan glanced at the three men for a moment before passing Condor's reins to Zachary. "Why don't you three settle the horses in the stable and I will secure us rooms for the night?" Of the four travelers, only Karigan wore anything that would give away her position, for she was still in her Green Rider uniform. Given that he only traveled with two Weapons, Zachary had decided it would be safer to travel as inconspicuously as possible, so he and both Weapons wore plain traveling clothes that, though well made, gave away nothing of their identities. Even their swords had been tucked under their tunics so that the black bands were not visible. If asked, they were planning to pose as a minor noble and his two hired guards returning to the castle in hopes of finding a position. It was common enough for nobles, particularly those with little land, to send younger sons on such journeys, so unless anyone recognized Zachary, they should avoid suspicion.
Zachary nodded in agreement, turning toward the stables with the Weapons as Karigan entered the inn. She quickly secured two rooms and some dinner for them before seating herself at a table in one corner of the room. The large room was quite crowded, and Karigan wondered briefly if it was a good idea to stay somewhere so well-known given their need for secrecy before realizing that they would be more likely to disappear in the large crowd than in a smaller one. Sure enough, when Zachary and his Weapons entered the room a couple minutes later, she saw all three glance around the room and nod in satisfaction before joining her.
The food was excellent, as promised, and Karigan ate more than she had anticipated. By the time she had finished, her eyelids were growing heavy, and when Zachary suggested they retire for the night, she did not object. They walked together to the second floor and quickly found their rooms just a few doors apart from one another. When Karigan stopped at her door, Zachary hesitated as well, glancing at his Weapons. "Do you not want to check our room for potential danger?" he questioned.
The older Weapon—a man named Fastion—smirked slightly. "Of course." He grabbed the arm of his younger companion, who looked somewhat confused by the question, and practically dragged him down the hall into the room. Karigan fought back a blush as she looked at Zachary who was watching her carefully, a satisfied smile on his face. Reaching out, he framed her face with his hands, pulling her close for a short, intense kiss.
"Good night," he told her, his words washing over her lips.
"Night," Karigan said, her voice wavering slightly.
"I will see you in the morning."
"Yes." With a final kiss, he turned and strode down the hall to his room. Karigan quickly shut and locked herself in hers, throwing herself across the bed fully clothed as she wondered if she would ever get used to kissing him.